Chess Puzzle #CRsCX — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen h5; rooks a1/g4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e3/e5/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/e7; pawns a7/b7/c5/d5/e6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook e8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxg6+ — rook g4→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Rh6 — rook g6→h6. Opponent replies Rf2+ (rook f8→f2, gives check).
4. Best move: Ke1 — king d2→e1. Opponent replies Qg8 (queen d8→g8).
5. Best move: Kxf2 — king e1→f2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bqr1k1/pp2b2p/4p1p1/2ppP2Q/3P2R1/2N1P2P/PPPK4/R7 b - - 3 18

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